The final tournament of the Nations League in North America was also politically under tension before the start. Panama has now defeated the United States in added time in the semifinals and meets Mexico.
Cecilio Waterman scored 1-0 for Panama in Los Angeles in the fourth minute of stoppage time. With this, Panama stands in the final on Monday (2:30 a.m. CET) and meets Mexico, which won 2-0 against Canada in the other semi -finals. The USA remains only the game for 3rd place against Canada on Sunday at 11 p.m. (CET).
“A lot of good things have happened to me in my career, but this time it’s something different”, said Waterman. “That was incredible.” In his cheers, he hugged Thierry Henry, formerly a professional at Arsenal and today TV expert and roared: “You are my role model!” Now Mexico is an opponent – against this team Panama in 2023 also lost the final for the Gold Cup in Los Angeles, which is comparable to the European Championship in Europe.
Panama’s trainer Thomas Christiansen – formerly Bundesliga goalkeeper king in the VfL Bochum jersey – said: “I think the boys played a great game. The USA can only be done with tactical discipline and order and then with a little luck. You have to have that, and we had that this time.”
Thomas Christiansen trains Panama
Tournament also politically under excitement
The tournament was also politically charged in advance. The tensions emitted by US President Donald Trump due to punitive tariffs, hard action against immigration from Mexico, threatened annexation of Canada or taking the Panama channel are determining topics in the countries, whose teams are now guests in the USA in the United States at the Concacaf Nations League final tournament.
Concacaf is responsible for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, it is comparable to the UEFA.